- Oil Refinery Throughput refers to the actual volume of crude oil and other refinery feedstocks processed by petroleum refineries during a given period.
U.S. Oil Refinery Throughput was 15,963 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023, down 0.1% on 2022. The Oil Refinery Throughput dataset of the U.S. from 2015 to 2023 provides a comprehensive overview of the country's petroleum refining activity, highlighting annual crude oil processing volumes, refinery operational performance, and developments across the downstream oil industry. Measured in million barrels daily, the dataset represents the actual volume of crude oil processed by domestic refineries each day.
U.S. Oil Refinery Throughput moved from 16,188 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2015 to 15,963 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 (−1.4%), an average of −0.2% a year. The series high was 16,969 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2018 and the low 14,212 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2020.
The gap between the series high (2018) and low (2020) is 2,757 Thousand Barrels Daily. The sharpest single-year move was −14.2% in 2020.
Among the 44 countries in this dataset, U.S. ranks 1 for 2023. It accounts for 19.2% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Thousand Barrels Daily.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Year | Thousand Barrels Daily | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 15,963 | −0.1% |
| 2022 | 15,977 | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 15,148 | +6.6% |
| 2020 Trough | 14,212 | −14.2% |
| 2019 | 16,563 | −2.4% |
| 2018Peak | 16,969 | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 16,590 | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 16,187 | 0% |
| 2015 | 16,188 | — |
Regional context
Oil Refinery Throughput by country, 2023, Thousand Barrels Daily. U.S. is highlighted.
Data definition
Oil Refinery Throughput — - Oil Refinery Throughput refers to the actual volume of crude oil and other refinery feedstocks processed by petroleum refineries during a given period. It is typically measured in thousand barrels per day (kb/d) and represents the operational output of the refining sector rather than its installed capacity. This indicator reflects the extent to which refinery infrastructure is utilized to convert crude oil into refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and other petroleum products. Oil Refinery Throughput is widely used to assess refinery operations, downstream petroleum activity, fuel production levels, and the efficiency of refinery utilization.
The data includes the actual quantity of crude oil and eligible refinery feedstocks processed by petroleum refineries during the reporting period. It covers throughput from both public and privately operated refineries, including onshore and, where applicable, offshore refining facilities. The indicator reflects crude oil processed into refined petroleum products regardless of whether the crude oil is domestically produced or imported. It includes refinery operations across all major processing units involved in converting crude oil into finished petroleum products. Data is compiled from national energy authorities, refinery operators, and standardized international energy databases using internationally recognized reporting methodologies, enabling consistent comparison of refinery throughput across countries and over time.
The data excludes refinery nameplate capacity, crude oil production, crude oil reserves, oil consumption, imports and exports of refined petroleum products, and refinery utilization rates when reported separately. It does not include production from natural gas processing plants, biofuel refineries, synthetic fuel facilities, gas-to-liquids (GTL), or coal-to-liquids (CTL) plants unless specifically classified within refinery operations. The indicator also excludes petrochemical manufacturing processes that do not involve crude oil refining and does not directly measure refinery efficiency, product quality, profitability, or environmental performance. Minor variations may occur due to differences in national reporting standards, feedstock classifications, refinery accounting practices, and statistical estimation methodologies across countries.
Oil Refinery Throughput — - Oil Refinery Throughput refers to the actual volume of crude oil and other refinery feedstocks processed by petroleum refineries during a given period. It is typically measured in thousand barrels per day (kb/d) and represents the operational output of the refining sector rather than its installed capacity. This indicator reflects the extent to which refinery infrastructure is utilized to convert crude oil into refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and other petroleum products. Oil Refinery Throughput is widely used to assess refinery operations, downstream petroleum activity, fuel production levels, and the efficiency of refinery utilization.
It serves as an important indicator of refinery utilization, fuel production, industrial efficiency, energy security, and the country's ability to meet domestic and export fuel demand.
The U.S. recorded oil refinery throughput of 16.19 million barrels daily in 2015, remaining unchanged in 2016 before increasing to 16.59 million barrels daily in 2017. Throughput rose further to 16.97 million barrels daily in 2018, the highest level during the review period, before easing to 16.56 million barrels daily in 2019. In 2020, refinery throughput declined significantly to 14.21 million barrels daily because of reduced transportation fuel demand, refinery shutdowns, and operational disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughput recovered to 15.15 million barrels daily in 2021 and increased further to 15.98 million barrels daily in 2022. In 2023, throughput remained broadly stable at 15.96 million barrels daily, reflecting consistent refinery operations and resilient downstream fuel demand.
Overall, the dataset indicates a stable refining industry despite temporary disruptions during the pandemic. The recovery after 2020 reflects improving refinery utilization, operational efficiency, and strengthening market conditions supported by sustained petroleum product demand.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating U.S. refinery throughput trends, analyzing downstream industry performance, and assessing crude oil processing activity. It supports refinery utilization analysis, energy security planning, investment evaluation, and policy development while providing valuable insights for researchers, analysts, industry stakeholders, and policymakers studying refinery performance, infrastructure utilization, and the long-term competitiveness of the U.S. petroleum refining industry.
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Definition- Oil Refinery Throughput refers to the actual volume of crude oil and other refinery feedstocks processed by petroleum refineries during a given period. It is typically measured in thousand barrels per day (kb/d) and represents the operational output of the refining sector rather than its installed capacity. This indicator reflects the extent to which refinery infrastructure is utilized to convert crude oil into refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and other petroleum products. Oil Refinery Throughput is widely used to assess refinery operations, downstream petroleum activity, fuel production levels, and the efficiency of refinery utilization.
U.S. Oil Refinery Throughput was 15,963 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023, down 0.1% on 2022.
U.S. Oil Refinery Throughput moved from 16,188 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2015 to 15,963 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 (−1.4%), an average of −0.2% a year. The series high was 16,969 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2018 and the low 14,212 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2020.
The highest value was 16,969 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2018 and the lowest was 14,212 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2020.
Included: The data includes the actual quantity of crude oil and eligible refinery feedstocks processed by petroleum refineries during the reporting period. It covers throughput from both public and privately operated refineries, including onshore and, where applicable, offshore refining facilities. The indicator reflects crude oil processed into refined petroleum products regardless of whether the crude oil is domestically produced or imported. It includes refinery operations across all major processing units involved in converting crude oil into finished petroleum products. Data is compiled from national energy authorities, refinery operators, and standardized international energy databases using internationally recognized reporting methodologies, enabling consistent comparison of refinery throughput across countries and over time. Excluded: The data excludes refinery nameplate capacity, crude oil production, crude oil reserves, oil consumption, imports and exports of refined petroleum products, and refinery utilization rates when reported separately. It does not include production from natural gas processing plants, biofuel refineries, synthetic fuel facilities, gas-to-liquids (GTL), or coal-to-liquids (CTL) plants unless specifically classified within refinery operations. The indicator also excludes petrochemical manufacturing processes that do not involve crude oil refining and does not directly measure refinery efficiency, product quality, profitability, or environmental performance. Minor variations may occur due to differences in national reporting standards, feedstock classifications, refinery accounting practices, and statistical estimation methodologies across countries.
The series is sourced from energyinst.org (https://www.energyinst.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1542714/684_EI_Stat_Review_V16_DIGITAL.pdf). It covers 2015–2023 and is reported in Thousand Barrels Daily.
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